About Us
GVSU Graduate Education Strategic Plan 2030
The Graduate Education 2030 Strategic Plan aligns with the Academic Affairs Strategic Framework. It supports Grand Valley State University’s (GVSU) commitment to preparing learners for the future through academic excellence, innovation, critical thinking, and collaboration. This plan outlines key priorities to strengthen graduate education at GVSU.
Mission
We prepare graduate students to think critically, push the boundaries of knowledge, forge meaningful partnerships across the university, and emerge as leaders who drive lasting impact in their fields and communities.
Vision
To be recognized as a leader in graduate education by preparing students to meet current and future challenges through learner-centered instruction, innovative research and scholarship, and meaningful collaboration with professional and community partners.
Values
We empower students to think deeply and creatively as well as participate in experiential learning, so they are equipped to analyze, synthesize, and apply disciplinary knowledge to solve real-world problems.
We champion high-impact, research-informed, and applied teaching and learning that fosters academic excellence, professional achievement, and personal growth.
We integrate and support students in meaningful research and scholarly activity, equipping them with the skills to create knowledge, solve problems, and innovate.
We support lifelong learning and leadership development that prepares students for success in evolving and diverse professional environments.
We uphold ethical practices and mutual respect, fostering meaningful partnerships across scholarly, professional, and community contexts.
Goals
Alignment to Academic Affairs Strategic Framework Priority - Empower Learners for the Future
- Collaborate with graduate programs to expand graduate student mentoring
- Collaborate with university partners to incorporate explicit professional development components within research training (e.g., grant writing, publication strategies, interdisciplinary collaboration, career pathway exploration)
- With campus partners expand support for graduate student research and scholarly activity
- Hosted 21 workshops for graduate students and six professional development sessions for graduate faculty utilizing collaborations across campus
- Continued to disseminate funds from Graduate Academic Conference Fund and Presidential Research Grant to support graduate students’ research, dissemination, and professional development
- Partnered with advising centers and graduate program directors to promote combined degrees
Advance Graduate Program Quality, Quantity, Innovation, and Participation
Alignment to Academic Affairs Strategic Framework Priority - Cultivate Transformative Teaching and Curriculum
- Strategically develop new and support existing graduate programs aligned with evolving discipline and workforce needs
- Support graduate programs, colleges and divisions to achieve graduate growth goals
- In partnership with the Graduate Council, ensure disciplinary depth and scholarly rigor within graduate curriculum
- Facilitate graduate faculty development, through university partner collaboration
- Updated several graduate policies to better support students and prepare for the addition of more master's and doctoral programs
- Worked with undergraduate programs to grow combined degree programs and improve pathways to graduate education
- Revised the graduate program review process to include the option of an expedited review of accredited programs
- Completed 4 graduate program reviews
Expand Research and Scholarly Activity
Alignment to Academic Affairs Strategic Framework Priority - Amplify Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity
- Collaborate with university partners to create and support graduate faculty-specific research support services, including grant development, compliance, and dissemination support
- With campus partners, promote graduate student participation in collaborative, interdisciplinary research and scholarship
- Collaborating with campus partners, support and celebrate graduate student research and scholarship through external and internal funding and events
- Hosted workshops for students and faculty on research resources, how to support students in their research, how to fund it, what to do with it, and how to use it to get jobs
- Distributed internal funding for students to conduct and disseminate their research
- Hosted the 3-Minute Scholar, 3-Minute Thesis, and Graduate Student Showcase providing faculty and students opportunities to present their research to the University community
Strengthen Strategic Partnerships
Alignment to Academic Affairs Strategic Framework Priority - Activate Partnerships to Drive Positive Impact for People, Place and Planet
- Support strategic partnerships with industry, community organizations, government agencies, and alumni that align with graduate program priorities and workforce needs
- In partnership with academic programs and campus partners, increase graduate student participation in partner-sponsored experiential learning opportunities (e.g., internships, coops, practicums, clinicals)
- Engage alumni and external partners in activities and events to graduate education and students (e.g., mentoring, guest instruction, project sponsorship, networking events, career panels)
- Hosted an alumni panel for graduate students to help them learn how to translate their degree and skills to potential employers
- Supported development of new institutional pathway partnerships, domestic and international
Promote Operational Excellence, Institutional Alignment, and Graduate Faculty, Staff, and Student Belonging
Alignment to Academic Affairs Strategic Framework Priority - Advance an Organization Culture of Inclusion, Equity, and Joyful Well-Being
- Improve institutional effectiveness by streamlining academic and administrative processes, optimizing resource allocation, and fostering cross-unit collaboration to support graduate education and graduate student sense of belonging
- With campus partners, create and sustain a culture where all graduate students feel and experience a genuine sense of support and belonging by investing in community-building programming, identity-affirming affinity groups, and cross-disciplinary connection opportunities
- In collaboration with campus partners, provide support for graduate students from diverse backgrounds through culturally responsive advising, mentorship, and professional development
- Advance faculty support and workload specifically around projects, theses, dissertations, independent studies, and other graduate student mentoring, etc.
- Updating graduate-related systems in Workday Student to support student admission and enrollment actions, in anticipation of F27 launch
- Assessed graduate climate through student feedback mechanisms (e.g., graduate student exit surveys) to ensure ongoing progress toward maintaining an equitable and welcoming environment
- Reviewed and revised graduate policies for equity and accessibility
- Reviewed faculty workload study
- Assessed graduate faculty workload within Graduate Program Review
- Collaborated with the Graduate Admissions team to host New Graduate Student Orientation sessions three times
- Streamlined the GA hiring process, hosted open office hour sessions (1x/semester) to support GA hiring, and updated required GA orientation